Let’s do some math for the disgruntled Broncos wide receiver. Lelie was supposed to receive $800,000 this year – $700,000 in salary and $100,000 for an offseason workout bonus. Hoping to force a trade, Lelie did not participate in the team’s offseason program, surrendering his bonus and leaving him with $700,000.

Continuing, he had accumulated $263,000 in fines through Monday for missing minicamp in early July and the ongoing training camp.

That dropped his gross income to $437,000. Hold out three more days and Lelie will have forfeited more than half his potential 2006 income.

Should he stay away through Sept. 15, which falls between the Broncos’ season opener at St. Louis and their second game, against Kansas City, Lelie could then return and play the rest of the season for free.

That’s right, the NFL’s leader in yards per catch each of the past two seasons – absolutely free!

Worse for Lelie, because the Broncos can argue the holdout is in breach of contract, the team can order him to repay $880,000 – one-fifth of the $4.4 million in signing and option bonuses he already has received.

Lelie could not be reached for comment Monday.

“From a financial situation, it starts adding up and he’s got to make those decisions,” said Ted Sundquist, the Broncos’ general manager. “At the same time, we’ve got to press on.”

Inside the Broncos’ locker room, the players have good- naturedly posted a running tab of Lelie’s fines. The players laugh and they also shake their heads.

“If he showed up, what would be my reaction?” said cornerback Champ Bailey, arguably the Broncos’ best player. “Well … I don’t know how I would take it. It’s not my place to have any say in it. I want everybody here. I’m sure the locker room would be mixed.”

After the top two receivers, Rod Smith and Javon Walker, top rookie and No. 3 prospect Brandon Marshall is on crutches as he mends a slightly torn knee ligament.

If Lelie were here, it’s within reason to believe he could put up decent numbers in Denver this year – and then escape through free agency at season’s end.

Any chance he would drop his trade demand and return to the Broncos?

“My entire focus has been on trying to work out a trade,” said Peter Schaffer, Lelie’s agent. “We think this is the positive resolution for all parties.”

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan was first approached about Lelie’s trade desire six months ago at the Pro Bowl. When Lelie wasn’t traded after 2 1/2 months, he blamed his agents and hired Schaffer. Nearly 3 1/2 months after switching agents, Lelie remains the property of the Broncos.

San Francisco was a potential suitor, but Monday the 49ers traded for Washington wideout Taylor Jacobs. The Broncos recently have poked around for a starting defensive end for Lelie, but teams are only willing to surrender backups.

“Each day I’m more optimistic,” Schaffer said. “There’s a process involved in determining value, much like in free agency. The better understanding of what the value is, the closer we get.”

Footnotes

Knowing a starting job awaits if he can get healthy, fullback Cecil Sapp can’t get healthy. He sat out both workouts Monday because of a lingering hamstring strain. He could return today. …

Mike Klis was with The Denver Post from Jan. 1, 1998 before leaving in 2015 to join KUSA 9News. He covered the Rockies and Major League Baseball until the 2005 All-Star break, when he was asked to start covering the Broncos.

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